The real fake world

So this weekend I decided to reread Kingdom Come. I've had it a few years, and of course I read it back when I got it; I didn't care all that much for it. I'm not really a fan of "imaginary" stories, which is what it seemed to be at the time. (Although I did used to read Marvel's What If? series when I was younger, these days that sort of thing holds no interest for me.) I went to Wikipedia to see what they had to say about Elseworlds stories, and according to them, Elseworlds meant stories that took place out of canon. To me, that says imaginary.

Now, however--after having read Countdown and some of its offshoots that establish at least some of the Elseworlds stories as having taken place in an alternate universe (including, I must assume from recent issues of Justice Society, the Kingdowm Come world)--I find it more interesting.

And I don't know why that makes a difference to me. It shouldn't. But it does.

More of the same

I'm debating with myself over whether I want to add a couple of titles to my get list--namely, the new Invincible Iron Man book and the new Justice League (is that what they're calling it?) book.

After all, I get both Mighty Avengers and New Avengers.

Years ago, I got both Avengers and West Coast Avengers.

Thing is, I was already getting New Avengers when Mighty Avengers came out. And obviously I was getting Avengers before WCA. What I'm saying is that I was already purchasing and enjoying a similar product when I decided to get the additional title.

But I'm not getting the current Justice League of America book or the current Iron Man: Director of SHIELD book. And not in the "well, I never happened to pick it up, maybe I'll get the trade" way, either. No, I mindfully dropped both titles because they were putting me to sleep.

The question is, where in the past I've added the new-but-similar books based on the quality and enjoyment I'd experienced with the existing book, this time I'd be adding a new-but-similar book that's similar to a book I obviously didn't care too much for.

What I'm looking at this time, of course, are not the similarities so much as the differences. For example, Iron Man. I always liked Iron Man as a character, and I think it's going to be possible (eventually) to pull him out of the abyss, but I really don't want to read more of Tony whining and angsting, however much he may be justified in doing so. I'd like to read more about Iron Man doing superhero stuff. That seems to be what the new book is going to focus on. So, I think we'll get it, at least for a while, see how it is.

As for the new Justice League book, I'm not exactly sure how it's going to be different from the other one. The word I've heard is "proactive." It wouldn't be hard to be more proactive than spending your first however-many issues looking at pictures of other heroes. I'm guessing it has to do with one team going after villains who are actually out doing something villainous at the time (attacking the acts) while the other one takes more of an unpaid-bounty-hunter approach?

And to tell you the truth, I'd probably buy two titles featuring two different Justice League teams doing essentially the same stuff (which is kind of what the Avengers/West Coast Avengers thing was--other than one team being established and the other still working out the kinks, they had about the same mission statement and the main differences had to do with character), if it was done in an interesting way. What I mean is that, unlike in Iron Man where it was primarily the concept (Iron Man in charge of SHIELD) that I grew tired of (which surprised me as I had thought it was a pretty cool idea), the concept of the Justice League is a non-problem. It's been the execution. (I'm keeping an eye open for folks saying "hey, Justice League of America is better now!" so that I'll know when to give it another try. Or to pick up the trades, at least. I'm already closer to doing it than I am with the existing Iron Man title.) So in that case, I'm actually less concerned with the particulars of how it's different than I am with whether it'll be...well, better.

Chances are, of course, that I will add them both to the list.

See this, comic book companies?

Now, this is how to get me to want to throw money at you.

More news on the upcoming Avengers/Invaders title.

Spoilers!

Occasional Superheroine asks the question Do Spoilers Spoil a Comic?, as in "Is there a point to actually buying a comic once you've been spoiled?"

She makes an interesting distinction between books that are good in other ways and books that really aren't apart from providing that sort of surprise (you really only get them in order to find out what happens).

Now, I read spoilers. Books I get, books I don't get, if I think they might be interesting I will read them.

I might have a different approach if I got my comics on a weekly basis, but then again I don't stop reading spoilers when it's the last week of the month and I know my comics are on their way, so I might not.

Does it affect the amount of money the comic companies get from me? Well, no. I've already placed my order a couple of months before spoilers for those books are going to appear, so I'm getting them anyway. Would I still get them if I got them from a local shop? Again, yes, assuming that I had a pull list (obviously if I've pre-ordered something I'm going to buy it when it arrives!). The only thing spoilers might affect would be extra purchases, and that would be in a positive manner because I'd be adding, not subtracting from my total.

I've added new titles to my get list because I've seen spoilers of those titles.

I've gone out and purchased trade paperbacks because I've seen old spoilers.

I've even ordered back issues because I've seen spoilers of a particular issue.

Now, that all has to do with adding books.

As far as deciding to stop getting books I already get, that decision is always made after actually reading a book that I have in hand. (I suppose that's obvious.)

I guess the only place where spoilers would keep me from spending money would be where I had been considering adding a book to my get list, and decided against it after seeing the spoilers. But, you know, that would be if the spoilers indicated that the book kind of sucked. If the spoilers indicated that it was good, they'd more likely influence me to get it. That's not the spoiler concept at work, that's something else.

Hey, there's a Cap preview up [Spoilers]

Marvel's got a preview of Captain America 37 up now. That's a little early, isn't it? Not that I'm actually complaining.

Anyway, it's one of those pictures-only ones so it's hard to tell who someone is when you've never seen the artist's rendition of that individual. But it looks like it might possibly be Hawkeye/Ronin/Clint Barton coming for a visit. Which would be awesome, and not just because Clint is a long-time favorite of mine--there are so many ways the meeting between him and new-Cap could be done, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how it plays out.

Finding comic community

Stephen (in a comment to the last post) pointed out another potential benefit to having a local comic shop--that it can be a gathering place where fans of an admittedly-fringe form of entertainment can meet, talk, get to know each other. He also points out that, for those without (or with!) a local shop and real-life comic-loving community, the internet and comic blogosphere can serve some of the same purposes.

I am, and have been for some time, a big fan of the internet as a networking tool for folks who have non-mainstream interests of many sorts (entertainment, politics, religion, etc.). As someone who has always tended to lean toward the alternative, and who has almost always live in a rural area, to me this seems pretty obvious. Other than my immediate family (the kids I'm training to like comics :)) I really don't know any other comic fans locally. I know a handful of folks who used to read them at some point, but no one who has anything like my own passion for them.

So I suppose I do regard the internet comic community (mainly the blogs, although to some extent message boards as well) as my comic community. I'm peripheral here, which is fine (I like to be peripheral, I'm strange that way), but I know that I can turn on the computer every day and find something interesting that someone else has had to say about some of the things I like best.

There are certainly limitations to internet community. For one thing, for the most part the need to maintain some level of privacy will keep a lot of us from really getting to know each other as we might if we lived in the same town and visited the same comic shop, maybe going out for coffee after we happened to run into each other on a Wednesday. My blog, like many, is a topical one. I don't talk a lot about anything not comic-related, and even less about anything more personal. For the sort of blog this is, I think that's appropriate. (It might be different on a mailing list, or somewhere like Livejournal with the filter system they have there, but I don't know.)

Another thing about the internet community is that there are many more people here than at your local shop. (I'm assuming, of course. :)) That means that there's a real need--just for social reasons--to break down into smaller groups. In particular, interest groups. Marvel fans, DC fans, indie fans, manga fans, female fans, feminist fans, Silver Age fans, 90s-era fans (again, I'm assuming), fans of particular titles, fans of particular characters, fans of particular character relationships, fans of a particular artist or writer, fans of large-breasted heroines, fans of bare-chested heroes--somewhere out there, if you are any of these, there is a community for you. It's a good thing because it allows us to spend our time where we'll be happiest and best entertained, but it can also be a little divisive if we let it (and often we do).

So as far as that goes, I don't feel the lack of a local comic shop. I don't feel the need to find RL folks to talk comics with. (Of course I kind of "grew my own," which isn't an option for everyone, plus you have to wait for them to learn to read. :)) But I'm antisocial. My need for community in general is probably lower than a lot of folks'. I can't say that someone else in my position wouldn't be desperate for comic talk over coffee. Just that, for me, right now, you guys are plenty of community.

Finding comics

There's been some discussion of comic shops, good and bad, lately. I've been doing my best not to respond "well, at least you had/have a damn comic shop!" although I imagine it's also quite frustrating to have what ought to be one of your favorite places in town turn out to be loathesome and vile.

I get mine by mail, ordering them online ahead of time.

When I was younger, the newsstand in the next town over was my best friend. They had an actual spinning rack with nothing but comics in it. But that was the next town over. Where we usually went, there was nothing of that sort.

But even in a desert there are bound to be a few oases.

Here are some places I managed to find comics as a kid:

- Loosely thrown in piles in a junk shop--not many, but I did get some Grell Legion of Superheroes there.

- Jammed into the back bottom row of the magazine rack at the grocery store.

- Packed in threes in plastic bags at the corner store. These comics had either no front cover or only 2/3 of a front cover. This did not bother me in the least since they were very, very cheap. The only disadvantage was that you could only see the two outside books, and had to kind of surreptitiously slide them around to maybe get a glimpse of the one in the middle (since Marvels at the time generally had the title of the book at the top of the first page, this was sometimes possible). I know I picked up a few of Tigra's early appearances like this.

So to me, the idea of a shop devoted entirely to comics was amazing. Visited my first when I was 17 or 18, on a class trip. Picked up a bunch of Legion of Superheroes back issues. Read them in study hall when we got back. :)

Now, if we had a local comic shop now, I'd like to think that I'd go there on a regular basis. I imagine that I would. I'm sure I'd try it out in any case. I am generally in favor of supporting local businesses. But the mail-order internet thing has sort of spoiled me in that I've gotten used to being sure of getting all the comics I want, every month. I've heard so many people talk about missing out on things they've got on their pull list because their local shop miscalculated what they'd need. I think I might actually be picky.

Just lazy, I guess

It's been a long weekend and I'm overloaded with chocolate, so just a few thoughts.

I do, personally, probably equate comics with superhero comics, just because that's what I read. I mean, when I say "I read comics" it does mean "I read superhero comics." I do read other things on occasion, but certainly in our house the comics are well over 90% superhero. (It's a contextual thing, of course--when I'm talking to people casually and say that I like to read books, I don't necessarily specify that I like to read (for example) old Nero Wolfe mysteries because it isn't important. If the conversation is more in-depth, I may want to be more specific.)

BTW, when I read WFA I don't read it all. I skip all of the manga links. I pick and choose which indie-related links I read. I sometimes skip links to posts on issues where I'm tired of (or was never interested in) that particular issue. My comic interests are somewhat narrow and I'm cool with that. Only so much time and money, after all. I suppose that when it comes down to it I am a fan of the genre more than of the medium. I also tend not to regularly read blogs that only talk about non-superhero comics. With a few exceptions, of course.

One nice thing about no one reading your blog is not having to worry about monitoring comments. So far no one has been mean to me, which is fortunate because I am such a sensitive soul. :) Keeping out the spam, on the other hand, is a concern. Sometimes it slips through Blogger's spam-keep-out thingie, no idea how.

I don't actually know whether everyone whose blog I read is male or female. Surprisingly often, it just doesn't come up. (It does in mine because of my kindasorta-theme of being a mom, but if you don't read the blurb you might well not know.)

I really liked this post about characterizations in Countdown. I do like Countdown but the discrepancies with the way characters have been portrayed elsewhere are rather extensive. I generally put it down to interdimensional jet lag.

Cadbury Orange Creme Eggs are pure awesomeness.

Why I read Captain America without Captain America

Okay, as I'm sure anyone who looks at my blog more than occasionally knows, I'm a huge fan of Marvel's current Captain America run. I read it as a kid as well in the 70s, started at the end of the Kirby run (which was insane fun! :)), read through the Bernie Rosenthal era, through the Diamonback era (yes, I'm categorizing Cap's book by his girlfriends). I always liked it. But it was never a top-tier favorite of mine--when you got down to it, I really preferred him in the Avengers book. Now, clearly, that is no longer the case.

The reason I picked up Captain America way back then was the same reason I started reading Iron Man, which is that I'm a character-focused comic fan. I enjoyed them both in Avengers so I checked them out on their own; when I found that those comics didn't suck, I kept getting them.

And I know this about myself. Heck, I can't even enjoy the current Legion of Superheroes book because they aren't really the same characters I grew up with. I only get Green Lantern when it features a particular Lantern I happen to find interesting. I'd seem naturally to be one of those folks who just quietly drop a title when they replace the main character with someone else. And, usually, I would have.

But it didn't happen this time. When Steve Rogers was killed, it never even occurred to me to stop reading.

And it's not because the book is so good, although it is. I ought to hate to admit it, but the quality of a comic probably isn't even in the top 5 reasons I buy it.

No, it's because by the time Steve Rogers was taken out of the book, a fair number of less central characters had been built up to the point where I'll follow them as well. I think Bucky/Winter Soldier has made a fascinating Captain America so far. But I'd also have kept getting the book if the Falcon had taken over the role. Or if Sharon had. Because those are two other characters who, thanks to many months of good development, could probably have carried the title as well.

Black Widow idea

Okay, when it comes to my comics, I am not a matchmaker. Some folks are. Some folks look at a team book and can just tell who would make an interesting couple--they have their favorite pairings, are pleased when the writers agree and occasionally annoyed when they don't. I don't tend to think about that, generally speaking, although I certainly have my own opinions on which comic couples have worked and which have not.

However.

I would love to see the Black Widow take another chance with Hawkeye/Ronin/Clint Barton.

They do have a fairly significant history (which I've discussed some of here). I'm not actually sure how that whole thing where Natasha was a Soviet agent when she and Clint met works now--the age thing isn't a problem for her, but it could be for him (not sure how old he's supposed to be), but that wouldn't be an issue for me personally so I won't go into it right now. Natasha was always way cooler than most of the Silver Age women, anyway, so the relationship dynamic itself probably wouldn't need a whole lot of revising. Also, there's been a lot of water under the bridge since then. They've both had other relationships--she with Daredevil and probably others, he having been married.

And, just like when they first got together, they're on opposite sides. He's a New Avenger, she's a Mighty Avenger. Sure, there was far more difference between the Cold War Soviet and American points of view than there is between the pro-reg and anti-reg positions, but still, that forbidden aspect? Dramatic gold!

I can't imagine that it would be a long-term romance, but I think it would be a lot of fun to see happen.

(And it could! The same guy is writing both of their books--how much easier could it be?)

Romantic Wonder Woman thoughts [Spoilers]

I haven't read the new Wonder Woman yet. (I get my comics monthly. If I confined my commentary to those comics I've actually read, I'd never get to talk about any of the interesting stuff.) And I haven't read the entire run. So I am really speaking from a place of ignorance here.

However, of course I have an opinion on Diana's potential romance with, um, Nemesis, right? Well, not so much with him in particular. From what I've seen of him, he seemed like kind of a jerk, although probably a redeemable one. But that's not my point.

I used to read Wonder Woman a bit in the late 60s (the Joan Crawford eyebrows era). Not so much in the 70s (the discount Emma Peel era). I have read only small bits of what came before then, and very little of what came after.

From what I recall of her romance with Steve Trevor back then, he wasn't much of a prize himself. He's petty and insecure. He's not all that bright. He's mean to her in her Diana Prince identity, and condescending to her as Wonder Woman. And he insists that she be the one to make any and all compromises in the relationship (well, to be fair, I don't imagine that the writers ever considered anything else, not only because the societal norm was for women to conform to what their men wanted, but because there wasn't much appreciation at that time for cultural diversity, whether those cultures were real or fictional).

Now, I don't know whether this "courtship" is genuine, but I do find it kind of neat that Diana's first impulse is to approach from her own cultural paradigm. Also interesting is her assumption that her culture's ways would be appropriate regardless of the gender(s) of the participants, which makes you think about how she would react to many of our own heavily gender-specific cultural assumptions.

I've read some other bloggers' opinions. Of those who object, on the whole most seem to object to the object of her interest, that he isn't worthy. (Some object because it isn't Batman or Superman, who seem to be the favored candidates for such a union.) I don't know much about him, and I definitely know nothing about his history in the DCU, so I can't speak to that. But a few folks just don't like the idea of Diana seeking out a partner at all--and it's certainly arguable that romance has weakened the character in the past. I don't think it has to, but I can see how it might be hard to manage.

I'm also kind of looking forward to the bowling thing, if only to see Diana in some rented bowling shoes. :)

What I Want: Marvel June 08 Solicitations

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #561
They say a picture's worth a thousand words... Well, for Peter Parker, the right picture is worth a million bucks! And what he does with it is really gonna change his life! This is a big one, Spidey Fans! We've got shake ups and break ups! Fake outs and freak outs! And a fight to the finish with one of Spider-Man's strangest foes: the fiendishly foldable PAPER DOLL! Miss this one, Marvelite, and you'll miss out on the BEST mystery guest of the YEAR! Here's a hint...she's a redhead!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #562
It's Web-Slinger vs. Wall-Crawler as artist extraordinaire Mike McKone (FF, The Exiles) joins writer Bob Gale to answer the question – who is “The Other Spider-Man?” It ain't comin' down to another clone saga is it? If so, send all complaints to 1994!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #563
Remember that joke that starts, “So Spider-Man walks into a bar, and…?” Well, when it’s the villain-filled Bar With No Name, it’s no joke – it’s a barroom brawl as only Mike McKone can draw it! And that’s only the beginning of one of the most maddening nights in Spidey’s life! Throw in The Enforcers, The Bookie, and a climax at Coney Island, and you’ve got a recipe for the nuttiest Spider-Man story this year. Gale didn’t tell us what he was drinking when he wrote it, but it must have been pretty good stuff!

These are for the thirteen-year-old but I'm kind of looking forward to seeing what they're like as well. I presumably have a better appreciation for Spider-Man than I did before reading him in New Avengers, although possibly not if the interactions I saw there are now moot because of the secret identity thing. We'll see. Will reading Spider-Man on a regular basis make me more of a "true Marvelite," I wonder... :)


AVENGERS/INVADERS #2 (of 12)
The cross-time team-up of the year continues with the award winning team behind EARTH X, Justice and Project: Superpowers! With World War II's greatest heroes mysteriously transported to 2008, it takes the Mighty Avengers to bring them in before the world realizes that the Invaders are back…including the original Captain America. But will Iron Man and S.H.I.E.L.D. have enough firepower to hold them…or do the Invaders have everyone just where they want them?

I really suspect this would have been a more enjoyable outing if the Skrull thing wasn't going on as well, mainly because I imagine we'll miss some interesting stuff because too much time and space will be taken up with "oooh, but what if they're Skrulls!" (which, as we all know by now, gets old real fast). Still, getting it, looking forward to it.


CAPTAIN AMERICA #39
Okay, what the heck is going on here? Is that two guys in Captain America outfits? Yeah, it is.
More than that, we cannot say.

Top of my list, every month.


MARVEL ADVENTURES THE AVENGERS #25
You're smart. DARN smart. You're so ahead of the curve, you've had your head removed and let your face be broadcast by a tv screen in your chest. That's not just smart, that's Arnim Zola Smart. And if the Avengers try to go up against that, well you can just switch their minds around so they don't know what to do with themselves. Oh Zola, you make M.O.D.O.C. look like a common street thug!

This is for the nine-year-old, but I'm quite looking forward to seeing the Marvel Adventures take on Arnim Zola.


MYTHOS: CAPTAIN AMERICA
Written by PAUL JENKINS
Art and Cover by PAOLO RIVERA
He may be dead, but now you can find out how the man became the legend! Mythos revisits Steve Rogers’
transformation from a weakling with a heart of steel to the Sentinel of Liberty! From the mind of Paul Jenkins and the stunning art of Paolo Rivera comes the origin of CAPTAIN AMERICA!

So is this a series, "Mythos?" In any case, it looks potentially interesting, and at least Cap's origin doesn't have to be retconned in nasty ways the way everyone else's does.


MOON KNIGHT #19
The execution will be televised! Black Spectre’s ingenious plan to destroy Moon Knight enters its final phase. As the whole world watches on high-def TV, Moon Knight faces a no-win situation. He’s already the poster child for super hero recklessness, but after this, he’ll either be dead…or Public Enemy Number One.

I don't know, on the whole I kind of prefer Moon Knight when he's kind of away from the rest of the Marvel Universe. Still, I do want to see what happens to him--he's a compelling character, although I don't think I've been this interested in a book about a guy I really don't like since Irredeemable Ant-Man.


SECRET INVASION #3 (of 8)
THE BLOCKBUSTER EVENT continues. Its Avenger versus Avenger. Hero versus hero! Norman Osborn versus Captain Marvel?? The Initiative versus an army of Super-Skrulls? Is Tony Stark really a- -? And who's that guy with an eye patch coming to save the day?? And, oh man, who did he bring with him?

Yeah, yeah, getting this one. I'm hoping that this solicitation is misleading and the book is not focused on seeing which hero wins in various battles. Oh, and yes, Tony Stark really is a dick. Or isn't that what they're asking? :)


MIGHTY AVENGERS #15
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO-----? Rewinding the clock to Avengers Dissassembled we reveal how one of the main players in SECRET INVASION was replaced by a Skrull and what the fallout has been. A major SECRET INVASION chapter is here! Oh, but you want to know exactly who we're talking about right? Spoilers, dude!

Well, I clearly don't know who the "main players" are, but I did read Dissassembled and I suppose there were quite a few opportunities there. Just don't make it Hawkeye, please? :(


NEW AVENGERS #42
THE EMPIRE part 3. For 42 issues readers of New Avengers have wondered, who caused the breakout in New Avengers #1 and why? And how was this the real start of the SECRET INVASION? Find out right here!!

Well, to be honest, I'd pretty much forgotten about the breakout and don't care a whole lot at this point (42 issues is a long time, people) but I'll read it anyway. :)


AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #14
"We Have Met the Enemy and He Is Us!"
During the INFILTRATION, a Skrull at the heart of the Camp Hammond said these words: "It won't be long until we have a Skrull in every state! "Now that Skrull stands revealed and the fate of The Initiative, the United States, and Planet Earth hang in the balance. Plus: Former Avenger, Delroy Garret, assumes the mantle and arsenal of Earth's greatest Skrull-Hunter, THE 3-D MAN. He's here to chew bubblegum and kick some Skrull-@$$. And he's all out of bubblegum.

We get it anyway, and I suppose I can wait out the Skrull thing here as well as anywhere else.


SECRET INVASION: RUNAWAYS/YOUNG AVENGERS #1 (of 3)
The Skrulls are invading and the Runaways and the Young Avengers both have a Skrull on their team. Coincidence? We think not. You two favorite teen teams come together again as the Marvel U is pushed to the brink.

I mentioned this one to the family and the reaction was "Oh cool!" so we're getting it.


CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI: 13 #2
The Skrulls are winning in England. Their mysterious goal there could turn the tide of the invasion. The emergence of the fabled sword Excalibur (once again locked in stone) may lead to salvation. But who can claim the mythic weapon? Pete Wisdom? Spitfire? John the Skrull? The Black Knight ? And what is the fate of Captain Britain?

Looks all right. I like most of the characters being used. Hope it's good.


MS. MARVEL #28
The SECRET INVASION is here and the Battle for Manhattan has begun. Earth's heroes have been scattered, New York City is under siege and only one hero is left to stand up for humanity -- Carol Danvers -- going to war. All of the frustrations, drama and insecurities of Ms. Marvel's life lead up to this as she takes on an invading horde of Super-Skrulls...and don’t put money on anyone green getting out alive!

Again, looks all right.


MARVEL SPOTLIGHT: SECRET INVASION
The infiltration is complete. The SECRET INVASION has begun. Who do you trust? Among the oldest baddies in the Marvel Universe, the Skrulls have decided that now is the time to strike. As the true extent of this infiltration is revealed, and the identities of the heroes the intergalactic shape-shifters have taken over are brought to light, the suspense will be palpable. MARVEL SPOTLIGHT celebrates this eight-part event by Brian Michael Bendis and Leinil Yu with an in-depth account of all things Skrull, featuring insider interviews with the creators involved in SECRET INVASION and its various crossover titles. We'll be criss-crossing Marvel history to tie together all the intrigue and plot twists that will make SECRET INVASION the comics event of the summer! You can trust us on that. You do trust us, don't you?

I'm actually undecided on this one, but the thirteen-year-old likes this sort of thing, so the deciding vote will be hers and whether she cares one bit about Secret Invasion. :)


THE LAST DEFENDERS #4 (of 6)
After leading a rogue Defenders team into battle, Nighthawk comes face to face with Tony Stark and Henry Gyrich – and…well…they’re not called the LAST Defenders for nothing! But can the Defenders get it in gear for one last battle as the mysterious Yandroth makes his move? And what roles do KRANG and the SON OF SATAN play in the Defenders ultimate chapter?

I actually have a bit of a soft spot for Henry Gyrich, dating back to the days when the Avengers had to work with him to retain their government ties. He started out as a stereotypical government bureaucrat but did eventually evolve somewhat (only somewhat, of course).


SHE-HULK #30
From the pages of INCREDIBLE HERCULES comes…yeah, you guessed it, Hercules! The Lion of Olympus, still wanted for crimes against S.H.I.E.L.D., collides with our bounty-hunting She-Hulk. The question is, given these two combustible characters’ current mindset and situation with the law, will they meet as longtime friends…or bitter foes?

She-Hulk is generally enjoyable, Hercules is generally entertaining, this ought to be at the least readable.


YOUNG AVENGERS PRESENTS #6 (of 6)
Kate Bishop wants to be a hero. Kate Bishop wants to be a leader. Kate wants to be strong, and proud, and true to her calling. Kate just wants to take care of everybody. Kate just wants to be friends. Kate wants to be stronger than all this. Kate Bishop never wanted anything more than she wants to be a Young Avenger. Kate Bishop wants to be Hawkeye. Here, she finally comes face to face with Clint Barton. Now Kate's gonna have to fight for each and every thing that she wants...especially her name. Wanting something can be miles away from actually earning it.

It sounds decent (despite the rather pretentious solicitation text), but obviously I'm not going to be skipping just the last issue of a mini regardless :).


YOUNG X-MEN #3
It’s the Young X-Men vs. the new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants! A traitor is revealed and the casualties mount as the team goes to battle. We hope there are Young X-Men left when the smoke clears.

Hoping this one makes a decent replacement for New X-Men for the kid.

What I Want: The June 08 DC Solicitations

They're here.

TRINITY #1-4
DC’s new weekly series TRINITY explodes in an extra-sized debut issue featuring art by fan-favorite Mark Bagley (Ultimate Spider-Man) & Art Thibert with lead stories and dialogue by Kurt Busiek (SUPERMAN, ASTRO CITY)! The lead feature explores the unusual bond — and importance — of DC's top three characters, Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, as a mysterious dream links them together and may prophesy important changes in their trinity!

Am I getting this? Yes, I am. I've gotten used to the weekly comic thing (yes, I get my comics monthy, but there are four or five of 'em, which is awesome!). At least I'm going to give it a try. We'll see after the first month.


FINAL CRISIS #2
Meet Japan's number one pop culture heroes, the Super Young Team and their languid leader, Most Excellent Superbat! Join legendary wrestler Sonny Sumo and super escape artist Mister Miracle as they team to face the offspring of the Anti-Life Equation! See Earth's superheroes mourn one of their oldest allies! Witness costumed criminals sinking to new depths of cowardice and depravity as Libra takes things too far! Uncover the doomsday secrets of the poisoned city of Blüdhaven! Learn the shocking identity of the prime suspect in the murder of a god! And read on if you dare as Batman becomes the first of Earth's champions to face the Fallen of Apokolips. All this and a spectacular return from the dead...

Yep, this too.


TITANS #3
Random hook-ups, internal fighting, envy…what’s going on with Nightwing, Starfire, Flash, Beast Boy, Raven, Donna and Red Arrow? Can this team get their act together before their mysterious foes reveal themselves?

Well, the cover shows Nightwing and Starfire looking pretty cosy, which would be fine by me, but since that doesn't seem to be the way things are going over there, I'll assume it's somehow misleading. Too bad. I really liked their relationship back in the olden days. :)


THE HUNTRESS: YEAR ONE #3 & 4
Helena Bertinelli’s vigilante attack on the shadowy cabal known as the Hand makes her a marked woman in Italy — just as a childhood mentor returns from the dead and inspires her to don the Huntress costume for the first time. And in issue #4, a deadly battle with her family’s assassin in the middle of Venice’s Carnival leaves Huntress with no choice but to return to Gotham — sparking a fateful first meeting with Bruce Wayne!

The thirteen-year-old is interested in this one.


ROBIN/SPOILER SPECIAL #1
From the rooftops in Robin to Gotham Underground, Spoiler’s identity has remained a mystery — until now. All is revealed in this special when Robin and Spoiler team up to take down a kidnapping ring, hit up an illegal warehouse party and finish Tim’s algebra homework; just another day in the life of a teenaged vigilante super-hero! Plus, even more Robin doesn’t know: Spoiler’s secret identity in another country, in another life - one she can never leave behind.

Also of interest to the thirteen-year-old.


BIRDS OF PREY #119
Huntress is sent by Oracle to spy on the situation of an old friend…leading Black Canary to send a clear message to her old teammates: Back off!

But of course!


GREEN LANTERN CORPS #25
The epic battle against Mongul begins here, as the true origin of the Black Mercy is revealed! The Green Lantern Corps find itself pitted not only against Mongul to save Sodam and Arisia, but an entire planet made of Black Mercys that seem to be under the control of a quite possibly darker and more disturbing force. This creature the Corps will come to fear is known simply as Mother Mercy — and it has no plans of showing any now or ever.

Still enjoying this one.


JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #17
In Part 2 of “Gog,” the Justice Society of America is split down the middle as their allegiance to the being known as Gog has disrupted the team. Are Gog’s motives on the level, or is it all some insidious plot to destroy mankind?

This is one the husband always asks about. I'm pretty sure it's not just because of Power Girl. :)


WONDER WOMAN #21
At the ends of the universe, Wonder Woman falls victim to the Black Horizon, risking the safety of her soul. To salvage her very existence, she must ally herself with the legendary Beowulf and another fearsome warrior from DC's past! But that's only half of Wonder Woman's troubles, as Tom "Nemesis" Tresser runs afoul of one of Diana's unexpected houseguests!

Beowulf? It's got Beowulf? That's kind of cool, actually.


TEEN TITANS SPOTLIGHT: WONDER GIRL tp
DC’s mightiest teen goes solo in this volume collecting the action-packed 6-issue miniseries! Currently estranged from Wonder Woman, Wonder Girl’s going to need the help of the last man on Earth she ever wanted to see again: Hercules!

Another one for the thirteen-year-old :).


SUPER FRIENDS #4
One villain is bad enough. But the Super Friends are in for a real struggle when they face six villains — secretly known as the Jester’s League of America! Plus, puzzles, fact files and more!
SCOOBY-DOO #133
The gang uncover a long lost, ancient temple…but when they meet what’s haunting it, they may wish it had stayed lost longer! Plus, have the kids of Mystery, Inc. finally met their match in the team from Secrets Unlimited?

And a couple for the nine-year-old.

Shared art

Funnybook Babylon has a post up, An Impassioned Plea to Marvel Comics, a commentary on the news that Uncanny X-Men will soon have two artists sharing the work--Greg Land and Terry Dodson.

I don't read Uncanny X-Men. If Brubaker writing it didn't bring me to it, no possible artist could. So I'm not casting a money vote one way or another. But I'm still happy to talk about it!

I don't think I've ever read a book illustrated by Land, although I've certainly heard a lot about him on the internet, as I'm sure you all have. Therefore I've only seen occasional out-of-context scans online, and have no idea whether they are representative.

I have read Dodson's Wonder Woman and absolutely loved the art. Gorgeous. If I were inclined to pick up books based on art alone, that might do it. (I'm not, so it won't.)

I think it can work to have more than one artist on a book. It certainly did on Captain America, with Steve Epting and Mike Perkins in different issues (hell, in at least one issue they each did pages, and it worked!). And, with so many artists these days seeming to have trouble completing a monthly book (in fairness I will say that, on the whole, the art now is superior to what I saw in the comics I read as a kid, and likely takes longer to do), having more than one artist to a book could be a real plus in terms of eliminating the late book problem.

However, I also think that if you're going to do this, the artists who are sharing the work really ought to be somewhat similar in style--or at least complementary. Epting and Perkins are an excellent example--it was certainly apparent when each artist was drawing the book, but it wasn't at all distracting from the story because they both seemed to be aiming at the same target. From what I've seen, Land and Dodson have quite different artistic styles. I'm not sure it'll make for a cohesive whole, you know?

I am apparently like a Batarang that always comes back...

I did go through a Batman phase a few years back. Batman has, in case you've never noticed, a hell of a lot of books. Really I got pretty well Batmanned out. I like him all right when I see him in someone else's book, but have had no further interest in going for the Batman-focused comics.

Then I read DC's Countdown to Final Crisis Panel, which said:

Is Jason Todd ever going to have his own book? DiDio: "He's going to be important in what's going on in the Batman-books" for the next year, specifically mentioning the upcoming Hush storyline.

which I guess means I'll have to be scouring the various Batman-related solicitations to see which ones I want?

So I like Countdown on the whole, but... [Spoilers]

And because I cannot resist previews, I read the one for next week's Countdown.

I'm one of those folks who have enjoyed Countdown, overall. It included characters I already liked (Kyle Rayner) and characters I liked when I was younger (Karate Kid and Una), introduced me to characters I've since grown fond of (Jason Todd), and reintroduced me to characters I might have developed a true nostalgia for if I'd have read more DC as a child (Jimmy Olsen). The storylines varied in quality, but generally didn't all suck at the same time so there was always something readable.

I am, however, starting to find the characterization annoying. If this were Marvel, my theory would be that most of the characters had been replaced by particularly grouchy Skrulls. (It isn't, so it isn't.) But...what happened to suck all the likeability out of everyone? Particularly the Challengers.

Kyle is often portrayed as somewhat immature, but he's always a good guy and he always tries to do the right thing, even when he complains about it. He doesn't let personal feelings affect what he does (although how he feels about it is a different matter). What happened to that?

And Donna! Donna has always been nice. She's the sympathetic one, the shoulder to cry on. She isn't someone who goes around insulting people or being mean. She gives everyone a chance. It's a character flaw!

As for Jason, well, okay, not nice, but also not as portrayed recently. He doesn't want to kill everyone, you know.

Now, it's not necessarily unrealistic to portray these three people as cranky, irritable, and pretty much sick of each other's company. They've been traveling together for how many months? And have spent pretty much all of that time fighting without a break and having to deal with screwed-up alternate versions of themselves and their friends? Presumably they make an occasional stop at a laundromat (one hopes!) or to grab a sandwich, but apart from that, it's been go, go, go. (So yes, Jason would want to get the hell away from the rest of them once he thought he was home. As for why Kyle didn't just pick him up with a quick explanation as soon as they knew something was off, I have no idea.)

However, these are also not people unaccustomed to living under stressful conditions. Irritability, I'll buy. Total personality change, I won't.

Oh, and although I can see the point of those folks who have been surprised that Harley would seek out the Joker when she had supposedly gotten him out of her system, I actually think it was fairly in character for her to seek him out. It was pretty much stated outright in the book that she hadn't dropped her need to connect to an authority figure so much as transferred it to "Athena." And it wouldn't be surprising if--after finding out that the figure she had idolized (Athena) turned out to be evil--she lost confidence in anything positive she had learned at the shelter. But I don't think you even have to rationalize it that much. We've all known someone with an abusive partner who just wouldn't leave, haven't we? Harley certainly wouldn't be the first woman to try to return to a situation that is, at least, familiar.

I want it, I want it, I definitely want it.

I am not one to squee, but if I were, this would do it.

Besides, it's got Nick Fury. How bad could it be?

Anticipation

There's a preview of the upcoming Captain America here:

http://comicnewsi.com/article.php?catid=231&itemid=11267

that makes me think it's going to be a long several weeks until I get my comics. I am so looking forward to seeing Black Widow come to the rescue!

I (might) want this

Does anyone know whether the on-their-way Justice League International Volume 1 and Volume 2 have previously been published in trade form?

See, I've got two or three books featuring that era's League, which I like a lot. Just not enough to buy the same thing twice, you know?

But if it is material I don't already have, I definitely want it.

Nightwing question

So I picked up a copy of Nightwing (on the strength of having liked the character manymany years ago in New Teen Titans) a while back and thought it was pretty wretched. Didn't get more than that one copy.

But I've been seeing some positive reviews lately.

Not that I'm looking to add to my comic get list. And I guess the character will be in the new Titans series, which would probably be more the dynamic I'd be looking for anyway. But is it really that good? Or just by comparison with what went before?

It's kind of like an earworm

I anticipate a problem.

The husband brought home some DVDs last weekend, and now I've seen some of the trailers for Iron Man, and now I have heard Robert Downey Jr. speaking as Tony Stark.

He has the look. He doesn't, really, sound like Tony Stark. At least not the way I'd always figured he'd sound. Not sure what the difference is--I think maybe the voice isn't deep enough? It's not a bad voice, just not quite what I'd have expected.

No biggie, really.

Except that as of last weekend, when I read one of Tony's speech balloons in a comic, guess whose voice I hear.

Dammit.

Makes sense to me

There's an interview with Grant Morrison on Newsarama, having to do in great part with All-Star Superman. I like Morrison, but I've not read All-Star Superman. Not a big Superman fan.

Anyway, there's a bit in there where Morrison is talking about Superman's marriage to Lois, and ways they considered handling it:

It was the only thing we could do with what I still think was a bad idea. The marriage damaged the dynamic of Superman comics quite severely, but if we broke up the relationship of these two great fictional lovers, Superman would immediately seem ineffectual and ultimately beaten by his foes, walking around for the rest of his life not knowing Lois was ever his wife or whatever.

So we opted to keep Lois Lane and the marriage intact. It’s kind of an interesting reflection of what recently happened in Spider-Man, where they did choose to magically unmarry the hero to predictable howls of protest. Then again, I actually think they’ll be able to make that one work if they just grit their teeth for a couple of years until the new status quo becomes accepted, so who knows?

Spider-Man, of course, is a very different sort of hero than Superman. But still, interesting to see how different creators approach essentially the same issue.

After Countdown, then what?

I actually do have something of a question--or is it a complaint?--no, I think it's more of a question, about Countdown. It's the same issue I had with 52.

Which is that while it's major cool to have stories focused on characters who are at best B-list and probably more like C-list, not to mention those who are really only peripheral on their best days...well, you get attached.

I'm a character-driven reader. I follow characters. When I follow titles, it's generally really the case that I'm following characters.

And when the series is over, what then?

When Countdown is over, where do I turn to see the characters I've grown so fond of over the last year?

The Challengers are relatively easy. Kyle will be in Green Lantern Corps and Donna will be in the new Titans book (which I'm really looking forward to, by the way), but where do I go for a Jason Todd fix?

Karate Kid and Una, I have to assume, will return to wherever the other non-current-group Legionnaires end up going, which is a shame.

Will Mary Marvel take on a real role somewhere? She's clearly a far more interesting character than either Billy or Freddie have ever been.

And what about Holly and Harley? Their partnership was pretty situational, I can't imagine it continuing outside of the context it occurred in, but it really is fun to watch their dynamic.

I guess I don't have to look for Piper. (Not that you can ever expect to see villains on a regular basis, anyway.)

Jimmy Olsen...well, I'm not a big Jimmy fan, so not such a concern, but I haven't been hating his story so that's something.

And will any of these folks turn up in the second half of Trinity? Because that would be enough reason for me to pick it up--but I'm doubting that that will be the case, as there certainly wasn't that connection between 52 and Countdown. (I suppose I will have to think of another excuse... :))

Comic book women

Kalinara has a post up called Strange thoughts about Female Characters in Green Lantern Books that reminded me a little of me.

For years, I have habitually cringed a bit when a new female character (or, hell, even an existing character who's new to the title) is introduced in a comic I read.

It's not that I don't like female characters, or that I don't want them in my comics. Far from it.

But when a new woman shows up in a comic book (and Kalinara is right, it's usually a single-character title featuring a male character, but it happens in team books as well), there's a pretty good chance that she is there to be a love interest.

Maybe it's love at first sight.

Maybe it's a colleague, and they'll end up pining for each other in thought balloons for six or eight issues first--but the main way the two relate will be romantically.

Maybe it'll be something unrequited in one direction or the other--but the drama introduced will be in some sense romantic.

But chances are, if it's a new woman in the comic, someone is going to be hot for someone pretty soon.

(Unless, of course, she's not portrayed as conventionally attractive. For example, Tony Stark's old secretary Mrs. Arbogast, who was an awesome character. She could be awesome because she was old and a bit chubby and wore glasses--not to mention married--so she could be written without the romantic thing in mind.)

Why should I become invested in a new character who could be cool on her own when I know that she's only going to be around as long as she's the main character's girlfriend (and with some main characters that gives her a very short character lifespan indeed)?

Anyway. Its also not that I mind the characters I read about having romantic relationships. Plenty of good stories and characterization have that as their basis. But, you know, when a new woman always means a new romance, that's pretty tedious.

This isn't as pronounced a trend as it was in years past, of course. I can, for example, enjoy Soranik Natu in Green Lantern Corps without wondering who the authors have planned for her to hook up with. (Granted that GLC is a team book and thus more likely to feature autonomous female characters.) But Kainara's example of Cowgirl is a pretty apt one. I kind of liked her when she was introduced. But I would have been happier if she'd remained a colleague--because a colleague is more likely to stay around for a while. Now that she's a "girlfriend," she's more likely to disappear and never be heard from again.

I want this!

Newsarama says that the folks who do Action Philosophers (which I love) are going to be doing another project: Comic Book Comics. A history of comic books, written in comic book form. How cool is that?

Reading the past in the present [Maybe-spoilers]

Along with our usual monthly comics last month, I'd ordered a copy of the paperback of A Death in the Family (the story of Jason Todd's death), which I'd ordered because I'd read the Under the Hood books, which I'd ordered because of Jason Todd being in Countdown, which I'd probably started to order when I discovered that GL Kyle was going to be in it. Because that's how I end up buying things I've never heard of. :)

Anyway, since I got it from my comic supplier rather than from Amazon, I didn't get whatever current version of it exists, I got the one that actually came out in 1988. Once I had gotten past the novelty of reading a comic that was printed on newsprint--newsprint has a very different feel to it than current comics, in some ways nicer to the touch, although of course today's books look much better and are probably far more durable--I settled down to read it.

It...wasn't bad. Very much a comic of the past, but comparing it mentally to what I was actually reading at the time, I'd say it was similar in quality. A lot of the time, when I read older comics, I'm actually re-reading them, and they have that "nostalgia bump" that makes it uncertain whether they're actually good, or good because I'm seeing them through my teenage eyes. This time it was all new, and presumably free of that effect.

That is, it was pretty good...right up to the issue where Jason Todd died. What happened after that? (Which, and this is why the spoilers tag is in the title, had to do with the Joker being made Iranian ambassador to the US. Um, what?) Not so much. A definite argument against putting too much of real world politics in your comics.

But on the whole--and since this is really the only thing I've read featuring Jason as Robin in the old days, it could be an exception--I was pretty impressed, and a little surprised to see that Jason's characterization then was not incompatible with his characterization now. I don't think that means I want to read more of the Todd-era Batman comics (Batman himself is a bit dull), but if they're all like this I'd consider it.

I was amused, though, by one of the review quotes on the back of the book--and keep in mind that this came out in 1988:

"It would be a really sleazy stunt to bring him back."
--Denny O'Neil, Editor , Batman Comics

Since I've been enjoying what I've seen of the character, I'd have to disagree, but it's interesting that the idea occurred to anyone back then.

First thoughts on my February comics

The Big Box O' Comics arrived today, and I've given most of it a quick run-through. So, so far...

The Alpha Lanterns? Deeply, deeply creepy. Also, pleased to see that Green Lantern Corps has not suddenly become The Kyle and Guy Show. (Although I'd buy that book, too.)

Captain America continues to impress. Even the guest artist in #35 wasn't bad. It isn't really a superhero story, though, is it--it occupies some sort of border territory between spandex and spy. Regardless, fun to read.

I am enjoying Wonder Woman more than I thought likely. I mean, I have reasonable faith in Gail Simone, but it's very apparent that Diana is incredibly difficult to write.

I'm going to miss Deadpool terribly, now that Cable and Deadpool is over. No, I'm not going to pick up Cable. Yes, I am going to pick up Deadpool, sight unseen. I hope he keeps his current supporting cast.

I also continue to enjoy Countdown. I'm not sure how much of it is the thing where I get four or five of 'em a month, though. :)

So, are the Skrulls who are invading aware of their Skrull-ness, or are they sleeper agents? Or some of each?

Luke Cage is being kind of a jerk.

You know, I pretty much supported the anti-registration side during Civil War, and even I think that Ms. Marvel needs to stop letting the New Avengers go at every opportunity.

You know what?

The comics being presented as gateway titles for kids--DC books like Teen Titans Go, the Marvel Adventures line--do a great job, on the whole, of appealing equally to boys and girls. I'm saying this based on my own observation and on some anecdotal evidence I've seen online. And maybe it's intentional, or maybe it's coincidence, but it seems to be the case.

What this says to me is that both comic companies are courting young readers of both genders, no doubt with an eye toward converting them to readers of their mainstream titles in time.

And what that says to me is that they are thinking beyond the commonly-perceived marketing focus on young men, at least in terms of who they want reading their books in the future.

Links worth reading

The Parental Trinity discusses Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman in terms of the families that raised them.

On Dave Sim, Cerberus, and Genius as a Personal Pardon is an interesting look at the way an artist's character can color the way we perceive him or her.

The JSA Killed My Mom looks at violence in current mainstream superhero titles. (I remember the Comics Code, too. :))

A little stability would be nice once in a while

I was looking at Newsarama today (as one does) and came across Journey Into Comics: I Have A Dream, specifically,

I have a dream that Marvel will be able to pull together all its disparate, raggedy-edged storylines into a whole, complete, satisfying finale.

Mainly, it's a hope for some eventual resolution to the various events that are currently going on in the Marvel Universe. And I've got to say, I want that too.

I remember when I was a kid. Back then, a comic event was an event. It was a rarity. It was remarkable because it stood apart from what you usually saw in the title--from the norm.

None of the current event storylines--none, really, over the last several years--have that feeling of importance about them.

And it's not just a nostalgia thing, although I know I can be as guilty as the next old fan of idealizing the comics of my youth. It's that there is no longer a norm for the events to contrast with.

I do understand that the Marvel team (presumably) is trying to create an effect of lost control, terrible things piling up one after the other, how Civil War and the whole registration thing will be put to the test by the whole War War Hulk thing, the Skrull invasion thing, etc. It's effective to a point. But eventually you have to sort of return to center and let the readers get their bearings.

It's one thing for the characters to be thinking "God, there's got to be an end to this!" It's another thing when the readers are thinking it.

Google me again

A busy day equals a look at my stats :).

muscular women comics
Ideally that would be most of the superhero titles, but I suspect this probably has something to do with a fetish of some sort.

nsfw comics
I'm not sure how this one found me because I don't think I've ever used the term "nsfw." Well, until now, anyway.

starfox sex flash
A popular shooter in the Marvel Universe.

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Likely another fetish request, but not something I've seen a lot of until recently.

spanked Supergirl story
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Because some things are eternal.

why why love
Why indeed...